Saturday, 26 May 2007

“I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” (2 Timothy 1:5 NIV)

China—Children’s Story Bible's bless the whole family

Increasingly, God has used the Children’s Story Bible to bless more and more families in China. “There is a very high demand for the Children’s Story Bible. Many churches are using it to train their own children and to reach out to non-Christian families through these believing children!” reports our National Director in China.

In 2006, Bible Network was able to place 164,926 Children’s Story Bibles in China. These resources have created a unique opportunity for evangelism into the wider community.

“Children who have read the stories and turned to Jesus have brought their friends, parents and even grandparents to churches,” says the National Director.

Many of these people, especially the women, were then invited to engage in the study of God’s Word using the Project Philip Bible studies. “Many of them have turned to Jesus. They were encouraged to study the Bible together with other women and eventually many more in their wider network of relationships was influenced by God’s Word,” explains the National Director.

God’s Word changes individuals. It also brings about transformation within the family dynamics and relationships.

“The Word of God saved my family,” says Ling, the mother of a 14-year-old son. Before Ling became a Christian, she used worldly values to raise her son. She thought that success meant having her son go to university. Under pressure, her son became rebellious and the relationship with his parents was strained.

Touched by God’s unconditional love after she studied God’s Word, Ling finally understood what the Bible says about true success. Today, she loves and accepts her son just like God has accepted her. She also tries to instruct her son using biblical principles and values. Having seen changes in the life of his mother, the son has stopped rebelling and has started behaving better.

“Getting along with teenagers is a difficulty facing all parents. But I have found the secret—bring yourself and your child before God. Accept Him as the Lord of your family and let Him help you so that you can instruct your children with His Word," says Ling.

“If I didn’t know God, I would not have that endless love for my son!” she adds.

God’s endless love was shown most clearly as He gave His own Son—Jesus Christ—to die on the cross for sinners. Jesus, the resurrected Saviour, the living Word of God, will continue to bring true life to more mothers and children in China.

As the number of children born in China each year grows from the current 78,000 to the projected figure of 140,000 in 2010, these children—the future leaders of China—will need God’s Word more than ever.

Albania—Bible Network partners with Campus Crusade for Christ to reach the youth

Bible Network and Campus Crusade for Christ will partner with local churches in Albania this July in an evangelistic campaign to reach the youth in Tirana—Albania’s capital and largest city. Through this campaign, Christians in Tirana will demonstrate their passion for Jesus Christ as they cover this city with God’s Word.

Albania has Europe’s youngest population, with more than 30 percent of its 3.5 million people under the age of 18. “The youth and their families are in desperate need of the transforming power of God’s Word,” says our Ministry Director for Central/Eastern Europe.

Bible Network will help meet that need by providing 10,000 Bibles, 100,000 New Testaments and 120,000 Scripture portions. Combined with supporting evangelistic and discipleship materials, these resources will help equip local churches to evangelise the youth and disciple them in follow up Bible studies. They will be encouraged to join a local community of believers.

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word." (Psalm 119:9, NIV) “We have been using the Project Philip Bible study materials in an evangelistic Bible study and have led five teenagers to turn to Christ!” says a local pastor. God’s hand is definitely at work here since all of these teenagers come from one of the most resistant cities of Albania.

Since 1997, we have graduated 55,811 Albanians through organised Bible studies, baptised 2,445 new believers and planted 72 new churches. We currently partner with 135 (out of 180) evangelical churches in Albania.

“Bible Network is excited for the opportunity to come alongside the churches in Tirana—together obeying the Great Commission,” says the Ministry Director. But there is still much work to do in Albania where less than one percent of the population declare themselves Christian.

Will you join us in reaching the youth this July, so that more young people would live according to His Word and keep their way pure? To place Scriptures in Central & Eastern Europe, Click Here

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Finally, if you could forward this on to any interested friends, then it would be most helpful.